Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 79
After the Arcturus party had returned to their main domain.
Albireo constantly thought, ‘I want to meet the duchess just once more.’
‘Not to cross any lines, nor with impure intentions.’
“It’s not like I’m some crass scoundrel who makes women uncomfortable,” he reasoned. He was merely troubled by the strange reaction when they had shaken hands.
‘It definitely seemed like a remnant of magic…’
From the expression of Duchess Arcturus at the time, it was clear she was unaware of it.
But if a person with special abilities had appeared in the long-disrupted lineage of Antares, it would be an incredibly big deal.
‘…That’s the reason I want to contact her!’
Her husband was insufferably unpleasant and incompatible, so lying about visiting a couple felt particularly awkward.
He had even forgotten about how he had picked some raspberries for his wife, yet the fact that Duke Arcturus had struck Albireo’s wrist like that… It’s all too telling!
“Ugh.”
Albireo brooded over that moment and then nonchalantly flopped down on the floor of the bell tower.
‘Well, if you’re handsome, you can afford to be a bit reckless; everyone knows that adds to the charm…’
“Ah, damn it.”
He had never been so troubled over meeting a woman.
In relationships, he was usually the one akin to a flower; the women came to him like the bees. But perhaps that law doesn’t apply to someone whose name itself is a flower…
‘How come there’s not even a mention of me in her letters… How can there be no excuse to contact her like this?’
He had received a letter of thanks from his parents, the marquess couple.
But in that letter, nine-tenths of it was gratitude towards his parents, and there was barely a line about him. Ultimately, Albireo had returned to the capital before his family.
If he stayed put here, he’d hear from the Arcturus party as soon as they arrived.
As Albireo sighed for the umpteenth time, a voice tinged with laughter came from behind.
“Sir Albireo. What are you doing here?”
“…Your Highness!”
Scattered on the floor, he quickly got to his feet.
A man with light cream-colored hair that fell to his shoulders, loosely tied back, was smiling gently.
Not just a mouth smile, but a genuine one that sparkled in his deep green eyes, hardly seeming like the future emperor of this empire in his unpretentious attire.
“Your Highness the Imperial Grandson. How come you are here without any attendants—”
“The Dean was complaining so colorfully about you that I came without managing to bring any attendants.”
“…”
“If you keep being so lax, it’ll be hard for me to protect you.”
Albireo bowed, remembering the impulse that had driven him to flee to the Deneb domain.
“My apologies… Your Highness.”
“That’s fine. As long as the research results are good, all is forgiven.”
“…”
Albireo managed to hide his grimace in a manner befitting a nobleman. The ‘research’ was, in fact, the reason he had initially fled home and met the duchess…
The empire traditionally revered martial arts, and a man who didn’t wield weapons was considered as if he had nothing between his legs.
However, the emperor had strictly forbidden the Imperial Grandson from participating in harsh events due to the rebellion of the recent past, and the Imperial Grandson naturally grew up closer to books than swords.
Additionally, being tall and lean with refined features, he had an overall scholarly aura.
Perhaps that’s why people recklessly assumed Riegel was frail and cast malicious glances at him.
Imagining the day they could manipulate the future new emperor…
Albireo chuckled inwardly at their naïve scheming.
‘Seems like everyone has bad eyes.’
Even now, the prince seems to mercifully forgive his subordinates, but if they don’t produce satisfactory research results, isn’t there a quiet smile that says he’ll remember this?
However, Riegel soon dropped the smile and seriously admonished Albireo.
“Sir Albireo, I understand that the research is difficult, but you must be more careful with your behavior going forward.”
“I will take your words to heart…”
“Now, let’s be honest. How much progress has been made?”
“The basic principles have been established, and we are in the phase of continuously improving the erroneous parts.”
“And?”
Riegel tilted his head slightly, gazing intently at Albireo.
“Will it be immediately usable once completed?”
“I am embarrassed to report, but although the principles have been deduced, a massive amount of mana must be continuously applied to see any effect.”
“Hmm. Is that even possible?”
Riegel showed a displeased expression but soon smiled in acceptance, easing the subtle pressure.
“Understood. This research is such that we must not rush and make mistakes.”
